Mynders renovations leave limited space for residents

Students who want to stay on campus could pay more than $1,000 extra

Starting next fall, Mynders Hall will undergo an extensive renovation, leaving current residents looking elsewhere for a place to stay. When Mynders residents returned from winter break, they were given a letter from Residence Life stating the dorm would no longer be available as a housing option for fall 2013. Audrey Pierson, a senior studio arts major, has lived in Mynders Hall since last fall. Pierson was upset when she got her letter because she said she believes the dorm is a good place to live for the money. "It doesn't really affect me that much because my friend and I planned on buying an apartment over the summer, but it affects a lot of the people that just moved in," said Pierson. "Despite not having air conditioning, it's probably one of the better dorms on campus."Mynders residents will be given priority for specific housing options if they apply by February 22. Students can begin to apply for housing starting today. These students have the choice of a double room in the Living Learning Complex, a single room in Richardson Towers North or an apartment on the Park Avenue campus, which they would share with other students. Unfortunately, these residents could pay more than $1,000 extra to stay on campus. "The residents will pay the rate that is charged for the building to which they are assigned," said Peter Groenendyk, Director of Residence Life and Dining Services. "We are not able to discount rental charges." Currently, Mynders Hall, with 142 residents, is the least expensive dorm on campus at $1,790 per semester for a double room without a meal plan. Without meal plans included, a single room in RTN is $3,155, a double in the LLC is $2,410, and all options for housing on the Park Avenue campus are over $3,000 per semester. The second-to-least expensive housing option is a double room without a meal plan in either Rawls Hall or Smith Hall at $1,910 each semester. However, current Mynders residents will not be given priority, so getting a room could prove difficult. The question of how many rooms will be available for incoming students is one that remains unanswered for now. "We will not know how many spaces are available for Mynders residents in the apartments, singles or in the LLC until after the current residents reapply," said Groenendyk. The interior renovations will cost $4.6 million according to an unfunded projects listing from the Campus Physical Plant. The money will go toward re-carpeting the building, fixing broken tiles, refurbishing bathrooms and other general maintenance. Victoria Law, a sophomore Japanese major, lived in Mynders Hall last year and appreciated the antiquity of the building, but admits it could use an update. "The architecture is something you don't see in modern dorms," Law said. "I don't know what they'll be doing, but if it's adding AC, then great. If they're adding an elevator, then that's even better."